Drain device for lifeboats



April 5, 1927. "H B HILLS DRAIN DEVICE FOR LlFEBoATs Filed Aug. 15, 1925 ATTORNEY Patented j Apr. 5, 1927.

@UNITED STATES PATENT *'oFFlcE.

' HARRY B. HILLS, OF` NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 STEWARDDAVIT & EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y., A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK.

DRAIN DEVICE FOR LIFEBOATS.'

Application led August 15, 1925. Serial No. 50,378.

'The object of the present invention is to provide a drain device for life boats comprisi'ng a rain valve lit-tedinto the hull of the boat and adapted to permit the draining off of any water passing into the boat while the latter is inboard, as on the davits of the ship. Prior to launching the boat the valve need not be altered inasmuch as water is prevented from passing upward into the boat by an automaticvalve closing member. However, a cap device may be employed for furnishing an additional seal or closure for the valve at the time the boat is in service.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in 'which- Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the bottom of a boat with the drain device installed therein, the latter being partially broken away;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

.` Figure 3' is `a perspective view of the flap valve member. v Y lReferring' to the drawings, is will be note that 1 represents the hull of a boat in which the device is installed]J The hull is formed with a circumferential opening 2 into which is fitted the valve casing 3, theI latter being formedwith a wide marginal flange 35 which is countensunk inthe hull and secured in position bythe bolts 4 and nuts 4X. vertical wallV of `the valve casing is formed with an opening 5, which openingis overhung by a horizontal wall 6 `which projects inwardly and which merges into parallel inwardly projecting walls 7.v Also, the bottom of the valve casing forwardly ofwalls 6 and 7 is open for the passage of water.

y Pivotally supported within the valve oase ing by means ofthe screws 8 is a flap valve 9, which flapI valve normally closes the passage-way intermediate walls 6 and 7. The base of the flapv valve is preferably disposed slightly above the base ofthe valvel casing so that it will not be subject to such fricj tional action of the water when the boat is being propelled as to tend to'rock the flapl on its pivotal supports.

The exterior of the'valve casing is threaded to receive the projecting thread of a cap member 10 and thro-ugh the capi member is The Y cap is raised to the dotted line position, Fig.

ure l, stop 11 will meet :ay shoulder l1x on the valve casing :and thus will prevent the capv `will open the liap valve and pass out of the boat. When the boat is placed in the water,`

the pressure of the. latter will act upon the liap valve 9 to -closethe latter and prevent water from entering the boat.`

For convenience assembly, I prefer to cast the valve lcasing with an open top and with-a shoulder 12, and then, after assembling the flap valve in place to close the top of the casing by means of a plate soldered upon shoulder 12.

`projected a screw or like stop 11. When the' l It will be noted that the flap valve, being in vertical position, vor substantially so, is

very sensitive to the slightest pressure of water on either side thereof so that very thorough draining of the boat may be enabled and also very firm pressure of the Hap valve upon the walls of the valve casing will be caused when the boat is launched so as to afford a tightseal against entry of sea. water. f

- Having described my invent-ion what-I claim and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent is as follows A drain plug for life boats consisting` of f the inwardly projecting wall Aand adapted tol contact with said wall andthe base, and a cap adapted to enclose the upwardly projecting portion of the device and movable to eirpose its side wall opening.

' In testimony whereof, I yhave signed my name to'this specification. f v e HARRY B. HILLS.

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